The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-18


ly painful. He is now crossing the
roof of a large block that is only sepa.
rated from the seminary building by a
narrow lane. In his hand is coiled
rope. What will he do with this:
Susie is not held long in suspense.
Once, twice. thrice he hurls moose
at one cf the great chimneys. The
third throw secures hold, and then
he is climbing. going up. up until the
roof and chimney hide him from view.
No one seems to see the daring youth
save the girl ut the window - she
watches and waits with an intensity OF
feeling that is painful, wondering and
alarmed at the sight. After minute
curly brown head comes to view
above the ridge of the seminary roof
Susie stands breathless as a brown
hand moves along toward the fugitive
robin. and then-the bird is gone
With IA defiant. wicked little twitter,
master robin spreads his wings and
alights on the peak Of a morrow gable
La ott vi liAf
.'Oh. dear
1t was natural exclamation of girl
ish petulence and disappointment.
Dan HurlOck does not mean tn give up
so. He draws himself to the ridgepole,
and with startling suddenncss rises to
his feet. \ thrill shoots through his
breast as he towers thus above all the
buildings in the vicinity: Il vast. airy
eNpansc about him. the world in minia-
ture below. That thrill of conscious
danger sends the blood from the brown
check. and fills the frank brown eyes
with 4 scared look not pleasant To
see.
$50 back, Dan. You can not get the
birl,'
But Hurlock hccds no. the warning
voice of Susie. He means to capture
his obstinate name>ake if possible.
Sinking back the youth calls gently the
name of the robin. The bird darts into
the air. tlutters a moment over the
Young mans head. then settles within
six feet Of him on the slate be.ow-juSt
beyond reach. Hurlock lies fiat ard
begins TO slide down the steep descent.
At length he clings to the ridge with
one hand above. while with the other
he reaches down after the bird.
The provoking little redbrcast is just
beyond his grasp. Ii, too. is clinging
for Il foothold. Again Hurlock calls.
but Red Dan only tips his head with an
expression of extreme wisdom. seems
To listen moment. then hops just a
little farther away.
The Young climber makes ono more
supreme effort to seize the bird, and
then his hold on the ridge relaXcS-he
is lost, \ cry of horror falls from the
lips of Susie. who has watched every
movement OF the daring youth. She
closes hcrrvcs As the sound of Il sliding
body CRATES on her scnscs-thc next
sound will be that awful thud one huu-
drcd feet below, Amoment thus. then
4 dead. awful silence that is more tor
riblc than the crash of ten thousand
cannon.
Susie ventures to look. Half way
down the steep roof of the seminary i
Dan Hurlock. living fiat. clinging. yet
moving slowly. an inch a second Ia the
awful doom that awaits him below,
The horrors of that moment no pen
can describe. She can not see his face
consequently is spared the CHASTITY hor-
ror depicted there. And then. with Il
meek ard humble ;wittcr. AZ if pcni-
tent for a sin. Red Dan flies in at the
window and pcrchcs on his mistress
shoulder. But the bird is nothing now
With dilating eyes. hcavin~ bosom and
almost pulscl2,s heart. Susie watches
the maa who is slowly Vet surely slid
ing to an awful doom. Far out she loans.
as if b. inspiration. rs She secs amtn'>
face at the window opposite. she
screams loudly:
Help, Help. Help"
Each cry is louder than the proceed
ing one. The opposite window opens.
and one Of the teachers looks ore 1t
the wild-eyed, white-faced girl, who
seems in such sore distress.
He IS on the roof. Quick. The rope
* on the other side. Gro up that way
and save him. screams Susie in Il
voice husky with the horror that con-
>umes her
''On the roof9 The rope2 l do not
says the man.
Susie realizes that it will soon be too
late-that any movement to save Dan
Hurlock must be made At once. This
thought cools her blood like ice. and
she tells the trouble in swift. calm
words that can not be mistaken. The
man leaves the window, aad once more
the eyes of Susie are fixed on the cling
ing youth opposite.
Courage, Dan. Cling. Cling. Help
is coming"
The voice of the girl reaches his ear.
but he can say nothing: even speech ne
feels will loosen his cling to the states
His clothes are coarse and rough. his
feet are shoele>S. and this fact alone
has thus far deferred his doom: but he
feels all support giving way. slowly
Vet surely he is going to fns verge Of
an awful abyss. 1t is a hundred feet
from the projecting caves to the court
below. Red Dan. the cause Of all the
mischief. is forgotten now. There is
no help. no hope. Such is the pale
youths thought. Vet he hugs that cx-
panSe of slate with the desperate en-
ergv Of despair. A vast. spotted ex-
panse stretches under his blurted Wis
ion. as his face Is pressed against the